2012 UT Football Gameday Improvements

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Athletics Department is happy to announce the introduction of several gameday improvements for the 2012 football season at Neyland Stadium. In continuing to ensure fans and supporters have a positive experience at Vols football games, the department asked fans for how UT could improve their gameday experiences. These improvement ideas were entirely generated by suggestions from fans and supporters and are part of the ongoing effort to improve the gameday experience for our fans.

“We are blessed at University of Tennessee to have one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports,” said Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Dave Hart. “We asked you about your gameday experience, and I am here to tell you, we heard you. 100 percent of the improvements we have made came from your suggestions, you, the fans at the University of Tennessee. On behalf of everyone associated with the University of Tennessee and specifically the Department of Athletics, I want to thank you for being a Vol For Life.”

Tennessee is pleased to announce the following improvements:

- New flat-screen TVs will replace the box sets in the lower level of Neyland Stadium.

- New installations at Neyland Stadium will increase cell phone capacity and give fans a much stronger wireless signal.

- Neyland Stadium will have increased locations of family restrooms with changing tables.

- During the course of the season lighting improvements will take place in the east sideline and south endzone concourses.

- Concession items at Neyland Stadium will now come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

- “You Are Here” maps will be displayed throughout Neyland Stadium.

- The addition of Tailgate Tennessee at Humanities Plaza offers a new area for pregame fun for Vols fans.

Each and every one of the improvements developed for this season was inspired from a fan survey administered by Dr. Robin Hardin, an associate professor in the Sport Management program at Tennessee. Hardin oversaw the survey and wrote the research report for the Athletic Department following feedback from the Sept. 10, 2011 football game vs. Cincinnati.

Come out and view the improvements at the home opener on Sept. 8 vs. Georgia State at 4 p.m.

About the author

Tom Knighton is the publisher of The Albany Journal. In November, 2011, he became the first blogger to take over a newspaper anywhere in the world. In August of 2012, he made the difficult decision to take the Journal out of print circulation and become an online news agency, a first for the Albany area.